Monday’s meeting of Roscommon County Council was told that there are currently 50% less uniformed frontline Gardai operating in this area than there were in 2012.
This information came following a motion from Boyle MD Councillor Sean Moylan that the Policing Policy in County Roscommon is reviewed, to look at increasing Garda numbers and extending opening hours in Garda Stations throughout the county. This follows a spate of burglaries in recent weeks.
Councillor Pascal Fitzmaurice informed the meeting that in 2012 following the amalgamation of the Boyle and Castlerea Garda Districts into the one, there were 62 uniformed frontline Gardai serving both stations. Currently the number of uniformed frontline members between Boyle and Castlerea is 31 – a reduction of 50%.
The meeting was also told that there are only two Garda cars patrolling each night between Boyle and Castlerea, both covering a large geographical area from Cloonfad to Ballyfarnon.
Councillors also heard that none of the last two newly attested Gardai groupings who graduated from Templemore were allocated to the Roscommon/Longford District.
Councillor Micheal Frain suggested that the current policing model is not working and not fit for purpose. He went on to suggest that the situation in relation to the lack of Garda numbers in this area was so serious that unless we get more Gardai, even as a temporary measure, there maybe a need to deploy Defense Force members on bridges over the Shannon to assist Gardai in apprehending criminals.
Councillor Gareth Scahill referred to a Joint Policing meeting held in September 2023 where it was proposed at that meeting that a letter go to the Garda Commissioner in relation to the reduction in Garda numbers in the Boyle/Castlerea District. He said that the same JPC meeting also heard from the Chief Superintendent who said at the time that he “would be disappointed if we did not get what was coming our way”.
In conclusion, the meeting agreed that a letter should go to the Minister for Justice seeking a meeting along with a proposal that there should be a minimum of two Gardai attached to each Garda Station.
(Main image: file pic)
